Stocking Brainstorm....

This is a discussion on Stocking Brainstorm.... within the Beginner Freshwater Aquarium forums, part of the Freshwater Fish and Aquariums category; -->
Planting depends on the type of fish you go with, for instance how heavily planted the tank needs to be to make them secure ...

Planting depends on the type of fish you go with, for instance how heavily planted the tank needs to be to make them secure as well as if you will need floating plants for them. I personally believe you can not over plant a tank, lol. (Well, you probably could!). If you do shrimp, the moss balls would be highly appreciated by them. And with a lot of the tiny fish we have been talking about, they do all seem to like a more densely planted tank I believe.

Also, the more plants in now, the quicker the cycle (if any) as you probably already know (and Byron can explain it more appropriately than I can)... the plants take in the ammonia/ammonium and nitrate, thus leaving the water safer quicker for fish. (Also cant hurt to 'seed' the tank with filter media from a friend's tank, or even if you can get your hands on some gravel from an established tank that you can throw in a media bag in the filter.)

I am of the mind that as far as plants go the more the merrier. LOL your tank looks really nice and as Byron says a floating plant would be really nice. Brazilian pennywort, water sprite, and duckweed are a few of my favorites. Good luck with your tank and I am looking forward to seeing more pictures when its stocked.

hmmm, lots more to think about there... But I think I am gonna stick with some moss balls, some duckweed (they tend to just give it away at the LFS, which is nice) and maybe a Java moss curtain behind the wooden arch.

I've got a surprise day off tomorrow, so I'm gonna go get me a test kit, as the one in the cupboard is several years beyond the proper date, and mostly crusty goo by now. However, by my remarkably scientific measures of seeing that the bacterial bloom has cleared up nicely, and the fact that it smells like a tank should I think that the cycle is pretty much getting sorted out, the plants have really helped it along methinks. So, all going according to plan, a few more plants tomorrow and, tests allowing, hopefully getting the first few fish in there this weekend or Monday!

hmmm, lots more to think about there... But I think I am gonna stick with some moss balls, some duckweed (they tend to just give it away at the LFS, which is nice) and maybe a Java moss curtain behind the wooden arch.

I've got a surprise day off tomorrow, so I'm gonna go get me a test kit, as the one in the cupboard is several years beyond the proper date, and mostly crusty goo by now. However, by my remarkably scientific measures of seeing that the bacterial bloom has cleared up nicely, and the fact that it smells like a tank should I think that the cycle is pretty much getting sorted out, the plants have really helped it along methinks. So, all going according to plan, a few more plants tomorrow and, tests allowing, hopefully getting the first few fish in there this weekend or Monday!

I'll get some more pics up when the new plants are in!

thanks for all the suggestions folks!

Our pleasure!!
Cant wait to hear what you get and to see pics!!! Good Luck & Congrats!!!

Right, just done me some testing, and we've got 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and 10mg/l nitrates, pH 7. I'm thinking it might be time to add me some fish...

The LFS currently is a little understocked, but are getting in a "nano shipment" in a week so I'll be interested in checking that out. at the moment though, they have got some pygmy cories in and some cherry shrimp. I was thinking about getting the cories this afternoon, waiting a few days top make sure that everything is running smoothly and putting in the shrimp, then waiting till this somewhat mysterious "nano shipment" consists of and hopefully getting something nice from that. This sound like a sensible plan?

Plant wise they had no moss balls, but they are coming in next week, but I managed to get some good old Java moss to drape around the place, and a patch of some mysterious floating plant that should give the fish a bit of shelter and somewhere to hide under.

Pics... The last one is the floating plant that I am unsure of, but got given free!

Ta Da!! You are there!! Thru the cycle and ready for fish. Yes perfect. Slowly adding fish in small batches as your good bacteria has to grow with/to the volume of fish you have... i.e. output from those fish. The new shipment also has to settle from transport. A good LFS will make you wait while they settle in. If they come in and start selling right away, that's not good. Ours makes us wait up to a week before they mark the tanks for sale. No price tag on the tank? No sale. And LFS will not refuse to sell you something even if it is totally not compatable. So perfect time to see what you like and go home and research how many you need of that species while you have to wait anyway.
Beautiful tank by the way!!! You have not lost your touch!!

Thanks for the compliments, and you're right, my LFS has a week of quarantine before they sell anything, more for wild caught. the shipment comes in on Monday, but I figure that a week or so for the cories to settle in will be no bad thing. Plus, as you say it'll give me a chance to properly research whatever pretty little things catch my eye. Right, off to the LFS for some cories! I'll try and get some pics when they are settled, but they'll probably just wanna hide for the first little while, and pestering them with light and camera just seems mean!